Beautybuzzerhttps://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com
Beauty and fashion tips to help you look your bestSun, 18 Feb 2018 07:03:44 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/https://s2.wp.com/i/buttonw-com.pngBeautybuzzerhttps://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com
Update: LVoing Louis Vuittonhttps://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/2017/06/27/update-lvoing-louis-vuitton/
https://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/2017/06/27/update-lvoing-louis-vuitton/#commentsTue, 27 Jun 2017 15:45:28 +0000http://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/?p=1810In my earlier article LVoing Louis Vuitton: How much is too much to spend on a bag? I had written about considering purchasing a Louis Vuitton handbag. The bag my husband eventually bought for me was the Speedy Bandoulier in black (actually navy but totally looks black), size 25.

The Speedy b 25 is small enough to wear formally at night, as well as to carry during the day if I’m not lugging a lot of stuff around. It fits my bulky wallet, sunglasses, spectacles, cosmetic pouch, phone, keys.. and has room left over. Speedy bags are very roomy despite looking small.

However, I have had issues with the bag strap. Before a year was up, the strap started getting unclipped and my bag would just slide down. When it hit the pavement a couple of times, I took it to the store. It was under warranty, so they sent it to Paris. I got the strap back a month later, but soon after the edging on the strap started to peel off. Needless to say, I was horrified. I removed the entire edging, and although I did a fairly neat job, I could not bring myself to carry it like this. I kept the strap away and now carry the bag by the handles.

The straps on my other LV bags are going strong. It’s only been this one. Moisture in my cabinet? Indian weather? Who knows what’s to blame! The bag by itself still looks perfect though – not a scratch. The leather is like iron. And it looks good carried by the handles, so I’m not in too much pain.

I’ve recently ordered a funky Kate Spade bag strap to wear with my little Speedy b. I’m hoping it will last me a few years – probably longer than the LV strap!

I ordered it online and had it delivered to my brother in San Francisco. When he flies down to Bangalore he will bring it down for me. I can’t wait! I’m as excited as though I’ll be getting a new bag!

TIP: If you’re bored with a bag and haven’t been carrying it much, simply change the strap to give it a new, funky look, and you’ll love carrying it all over again. Keeps the excitement alive without breaking the bank.

]]>https://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/2017/06/07/1768/feed/0beautybuzzer170604 -OpenPage-flawsThe Lauren 1980 – Bottega Venetahttps://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/2017/06/06/the-lauren-1980-bottega-veneta/
https://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/2017/06/06/the-lauren-1980-bottega-veneta/#commentsTue, 06 Jun 2017 13:31:46 +0000http://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/?p=1727A few weeks ago, I received an SMS. Ferragamo was on sale! I had my eye on a pair of nude shoes, so that evening, husband in tow, we walked to UB City, a beautiful mall in Bangalore which houses Louis Vuitton, Jimmy Choo and a few other top-end brands.

Unfortunately the shoes I wanted were not on sale, so I decided against making a purchase. I tried on a few other sale items, but the ones I liked were not available in my size.

We left Ferragamo and stepped into Bottega Veneta. And there, my eyes fell on this beauty: The Lauren 1980 clutch, named after Lauren Hutton. I sat with my husband at the coffee shop outside, and did a quick google search for reviews, but surprisingly, didn’t find many. Anyhow, I didn’t really need reviews to tell me that I loved it, because I had held the bag in my hand, felt the soft leather, and was in love.

We finished our coffee, retuned to the store, and I left with a small bag and a large smile

The Lauren 1980

Since I have bought this beauty, I have carried it a lot – both during the day for lunches, as well as out at night. It has proved to be very versatile for a clutch.

Here are some of the reasons I love it:

It is large (7.1*11*3.1 inches), hence practical, and can easily fit my phone, spectacles, sunglasses, keys, pen, small make-up case. I’m over the age of 40, and need to carry my reading glasses with me everywhere. While I can manage without them… damn! It’s a pain! So a larger clutch works great. I have a couple of other small clutches, and it is nice to have this as an option.

The quality of the leather is smooshtacular. It is soft, so durable, and looks amazing.

I received a lot of compliments when I carried it. My friends instantly recognised it as a Bottega clutch – which, I guess, is good? Although different from the usual BV clutches, the criss-cross weave is unmistakable.

It looks like a pouch – and there’s something vintage and old-fashioned about it which I like.

It is also the perfect size to tuck under your armpit without it doing the disappearing act. So you can keep your hands relatively free. In comparison, you cannot tuck box clutches under your arms without feeling uncomfortable.

It is going to last a long, long time.

I rarely carry my other handheld clutches because they fit so little! I keep them exclusively for parties. In comparison, I have already carried this about a lot.

It can be dressed down because it’s not flashy, and dressed up, because the quality is unmistakable. Perfect for dates – and for that, “Hey, I’m not even trying!” look This ol’ thing?

(And what a fabulous thing!)

]]>https://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/2017/06/06/the-lauren-1980-bottega-veneta/feed/2beautybuzzer45339005WG_16_fpChanel WOC Reviewhttps://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/2017/05/29/chanel-woc-review/
https://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/2017/05/29/chanel-woc-review/#respondMon, 29 May 2017 10:20:22 +0000http://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/?p=1615Let me begin this review by saying, I love my little WOC, which is literally a wallet on chain that also fits my phone, a lipstick, a pen and eyeglasses. My phone is a huge iPhone Plus with a hefty frame, so those with smaller phones should be able to fit in perhaps one more thing like a compact or a small notebook as well as keys.

Caviar leather WOC, around USD 2100.

The WOC with the chain doubled

While I have seen reviews of people using it as their daily bag, I cannot. I lug a lot of stuff around, so while it doesn’t work for a daily bag for me, it’s great if I have to nip out for a bit to meet friends for coffee. And of course, it makes a great bag for errands, and works well for the night.

The WOC has 6 card slots, two zippered compartments, and a little additional space. It can be carried 4 ways: As a cross-over, as a shoulder bag by reducing the chain, as a higher shoulder bag with double chain – which is the dressiest option and gives it a very Chanel Classic look (not bad for half-price), and as a clutch, with the chain tucked inside. It could also be carried as a wallet in your handbag. I’m not doing that though because my Marc Jacobs zip clutch is still going strong. I’m saving my WOC for nights out.

You don’t NEED this bag, but if you’re in the market for a little cross body to run around with, this is a very pretty option. Most cross-bodies have fat straps, which I don’t like. The strap on the WOC is delicate and has a lovely shine because of the way the metal has been cut.

Needless to say, you WOC will last decades. Also, it’s a Chanel, so brace yourself for the compliments.

]]>https://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/2017/05/29/chanel-woc-review/feed/0beautybuzzerIMG_9749IMG_9755Dress Up! If not now, when?https://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/2017/03/15/dress-up-if-not-now-when/
https://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/2017/03/15/dress-up-if-not-now-when/#commentsWed, 15 Mar 2017 15:19:21 +0000http://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/?p=1252You don’t actually have to have a million bucks to look like a million bucks. Sure, a Chanel Jacket, a Kelly and red soled shoes help, but if designer-wear is not an option, there are other ways…

When you are dressed well, you get more of the right kind of attention, better service in stores, restaurants, and are taken more seriously at work. You also feel more confident, and this boosts your self-esteem. And as we know, anything that can be done to boost our self-esteem, must be done!

The only thing wrong with updating your wardrobe, is when you go overboard and spend money you don’t have. Don’t do that! You can look super chic with Just a few tweaks to your wardrobe. Here’s how you can do it, without breaking the bank.

Invest in one designer handbag

A good, high-quality handbag should be right up there on your wardrobe list. A well-made one will last years. High-end designers use the best quality leather and hardware, and their workmanship is excellent. Designer bags don’t start falling apart after a season. They hold their shape, and often look good as new decades later. Women have inherited Chanel handbags from their mothers, grandmothers even, and they look as classy today as they did half a century ago. Needless to say, you don’t have to splurge on a Chanel. There are many designer handbags that are extremely durable and available at a lower price-range. So if money is tight, save up, buy one handbag, and carry it until it lasts – very possibly a decade or two. The price per wear will whittle down over time, and this one accessory can upgrade your look like nothing else can.

Consider opting for a mid-size handbag that could transition from day to night, in which case black with gold hardware would be an elegant and classy choice. Handheld handbags look very chic, so get one with a detachable strap, which can be removed for a formal event, and clipped on during the day.

Chain straps look fancier than leather ones, and are an easy way to sharpen your look. I’d do a gold chain strap, thus reducing the need for jewellery. The Falabella Stella McCartney Foldover Tote has chunky gold chains and is a great option as it can be carried three ways – folded over as a clutch, as a smaller shoulder bag and as a large tote, making it extremely versatile and obliterating the need for a second bag. It is not as expensive as other designer bags and retails for around 1100 USD. If you wait for the sales, you may luck out and get it even cheaper.

Sure you can get cheap faux-leather bags for a lot less, but quality shows. They will not look as nice, and will need to be replaced within a year.

Jewellery

While diamond solitaires look great, there’s no need to fret if they don’t fit into your budget. Stick to a single metal, gold, to match the chain on your handbag. If you get a thin gold chain, you can hang a chunky pendant as a dressier option. Two pairs of gold hoops, one big and thin and the other small and chunky, will work for all events. Remember to ease up on the bling – you’re already getting a lot of it from the handbag.

Colour

Wear everything in one colour or in shades of the same colour. Instant chic.

Fabric

Stay a mile away from polyester. Other fabrics mixed with some polyester is fine, but if the entire garment is a 100 percent polyester, don’t, unless you’re in your teens or probably early twenties. Invest in a fewer clothes, of better quality, and look after them. Remove them as soon as you reach home so dry-cleaning bills don’t skyrocket. If the fabric is washable, then at times you could get away by simply washing the underarm area instead of throwing it in for a wash, to get more wear out of each outfit. Always wear an anti-persiperant, aluminium-free if possible, so you don’t stain your underarms or cause odour.

Undergarments

Try and match the colour of your bra to your outfit, and never wear a white bra with a black top. You could do away with white bras completely and wear nude bras with white and most light colours, black with black, and red with red. Lace bras look very pretty hanging in the stores, but not so much under slinky clothes.

Shoes

Minimise your shoe collection! Get a few, good pairs, made with leather or material built to last. Gold sandals for parties that require bling, black wedges or flats for daily wear, a pair of well-polished (always) black boots and nude heels are all the shoes you need. Stick to the same formula – less items of better quality. You will accumulate less clutter, discard less, create less trash, be more environment-friendly, and will make better use of the items you do have.

When I bought this zip clutch two and a half years ago, it could hold my money, cards and cell phone.I could rush out of the house holding just my wallet/clutch, and have all my essentials with me.

Now things have changed – more specifically, my phone has changed. It is a monster 6 plus. A bulky case serves to make it even fatter, and there’s no way its fitting into my gorgeous wallet. I can no longer use it as a clutch unless I’m okay with carrying my phone in my hand. Which I’m not. I’d rather carry a bigger bag.

Having said that, I do love my MJ. It feels so special every time I pull it out of my bag to pay for a purchase. The leather is soft and the quilting looks and feels luxurious. One of the two little pockets in front hold passport photographs of everyone in my family so I always have them on hand, while the other pocket holds change.

I would recommend this wallet more for its aesthetic qualities than its practicality. It doesn’t fit into my slimmer bags, and for this purpose alone I would not buy it again unless I have more than one wallet. I am however going to use this wallet until it falls apart – and that’s going to take a long, long time. It still looks new – and I have used it every single day for the last three years.

Which is good.

And bad.

]]>https://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/2016/09/06/marc-jacobs-zip-clutch-2/feed/0beautybuzzerMarc Jacobs Zip ClutchEnough About the Botox!https://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/2016/08/15/enough-about-the-botox/
https://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/2016/08/15/enough-about-the-botox/#respondMon, 15 Aug 2016 03:37:31 +0000http://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/?p=317Every time Shobhaa De hurts anyone’s sentiments (which is pretty often), haters crawl out to target her age and surgical ‘interventions’ as if the fact that she’s had work done reduces her right to an opinion. One early instance that stands out in my mind is when a vibrant and bubbly Sonam Kapoor made fun of Shobhaa De’s ‘plastic-filled’ face, over a cup of coffee with Karan. Sonam justified her stand by declaring that her father has never gone under the knife and how good does he look?
How about hair weaving or transplant? Or that doesn’t count? Or perhaps he’s just never gone in for any procedure and hair just thins for Anil Kapoor at a different rate. God knows he’s always been blessed in that department. When the rest of us mortals start losing hair and pray to God to give us thicker locks, our prayers are purportedly answered when it starts sprouting on our chins. Science has thankfully come up with a solution and has installed Cntrl X and Cntrl Y keys in our hirsute programming. Everyone’s happy. Except maybe the guys who happily go bald.
Is it alright for bald men to criticize someone who’s gone in for weaving, just like those who have never had any plastic surgery feel entitled to criticize those who have gone in for it?
No. It’s not.
We need to stop giving ourselves medals for wearing the “embrace your age and be natural” tag. One time a seriously depressed and tired looking acquaintance said to me, “Oh I never wear make-up,” and preened as she waited for me to gush over her beauteous non-made-up looks. I stared at her in wonder. Does she even own a mirror?
There are some people who don’t wear make-up and still look fabulous, and those that look fabulous even without make-up but still choose to wear it for various reasons. Sometimes it’s just about making a statement. If we want to look bolder, stronger, more grungy, playful or glamourous, we turn to make-up as it helps us achieve these looks. The fact that is often helps us look better doesn’t hurt. So if we start feeling superior because we’re walking around without any make-up on, we really should get off our high horses and not talk about being au natural unless we’re sprouting a unibrow and handlebar moustache.
No one should tell us what an acceptable level of modification is. Our faces, our bodies. We get to decide how far we’re willing to go in this relentless pursuit of beauty. Some blowdry their hair regularly, some go in for chemical treatments. There are those who flaunt grey locks with pride, those who colour their hair just to hide the greys and those who regularly highlight their hair in varying shades of blonde and red. Can’t wait to get longer locks? Clip ‘em in. Don’t like your eye colour? Change it! It’s all good.
So where do we draw the line?
When I asked this question to my husband, he said he wouldn’t like it if I anything injectable done – being traumatised by a certain Bollywood actress’s lips – or went under the knife. Coloured contacts, highlights, lowlights… all else is fine. Of course, I don’t have to listen to him but if I do draw the line at fillers, that doesn’t give me the right to poke fun of those who don’t. A little less judgement, a little more kindness. Please!
Shobaa De recently posted a callous and shallow tweet about our country’s sportspersons. We are entitled to object or bristle, but constant references to her age and her “plastic-face” – things that have nothing to do with her tweet – is a little bit ridiculous. When a singer thinks it’s fair game to call her a “besharam budhiya” – well, that’s just disgusting. It’s not even true, because a “budhiya” is the last thing she looks like. In fact, if one wants to go in for fillers or face-lifts or whatever it is one does at a certain age, they should follow Ms De’s example. We’ve all seen horrific photographs of plastic surgeries gone drastically wrong. Shobha has done nothing very drastic. She looked good when she was young, and has managed to hold on to those looks with a little (or a lot!) help from science. She’s not blown her boobs out of proportion, she’s not fattened her lips to get a pout a la Angelina Jolie. She’s filled in the gaps, nothing more. If she puts her foot in her artfully-enhanced mouth, which she often does, feel free to disagree with her. But really, making fun of her because she’s older, pays attention to her looks, and doesn’t look like a “budhiya” should? Give it a rest.
]]>https://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/2016/08/15/enough-about-the-botox/feed/0beautybuzzerMustard Oil for Hairhttps://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/2014/12/29/mustard-oil-for-hair/
https://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/2014/12/29/mustard-oil-for-hair/#respondMon, 29 Dec 2014 12:42:29 +0000http://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/?p=1236

I stumbled across a bottle of cold pressed Mustard Oil, which I had picked up from Godrej Nature’s Basket, when cleaning up my kitchen cabinet this afternoon. A quick glance at the expiry date showed me that it had another month to go, but I still wasn’t very comfortable using it for cooking. It had been lying in the shelf, opened, for eleven months, and that called for automatic disqualification for consumption. But that didn’t mean I had to toss it in the bin!

When my elder daughter was born, I had a maid from Bengal who swore by the healing powers of mustard oil. Every time my daughter had a cold, she would apply mustard oil on her back and chest. It helped. Mustard oil is very heaty, and has been used as a remedy for cold for generations in India. I also remembered her massaging mustard hair into my daughter’s scalp, and into her own, and she had jet black hair. But that of course could be genetic.

So I thought, why not apply it to the hair? Most oils undoubtedly provide intense moisturizing benefits to hair, and it stands to reason that different oils have unique properties. It makes sense to use different oils in order to gain varied benefits. Coconut oil is very cooling, and I stay away from applying it to my scalp in the winter months. Mustard oil is actually the perfect winter oil. In addition, the act of massaging the scalp is very beneficial in itself.

Although cold-pressed oils are expensive, they are a far better alternative to refined oils. In fact, cold-pressed oils can very easily take the place of expensive body lotions, which often contain carcinogenic chemicals. After massaging a generous amount into my scalp and on my hair, I applied a few drops of the oil to my heels, which are now encased in socks. It’s been a lazy day and I have all the time in the world to pamper myself – and that’s what I intend to do these holidays.

I plan to shampoo my hair after around three hours, later this evening. Here’s hoping that the oil will not be a nightmare to wash off. I do hope that the result will be soft, shiny locks!

]]>https://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/2014/12/29/mustard-oil-for-hair/feed/0beautybuzzer_MG_2516_HEALTH1ST-MUSTARD-OIL-COLDPRSSD-EV-500MLLovin’ my PS1https://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/2014/09/19/lovin-my-ps1/
https://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/2014/09/19/lovin-my-ps1/#respondFri, 19 Sep 2014 18:20:43 +0000http://beautybuzzer.wordpress.com/?p=1228So this time, when my DH made a trip to Seattle, I spent a week burning up the internet as I obsessed about my next bag purchase. I narrowed my choices down to the Chloe Marcie and Proenza Schouler. I don’t have a tan bag in my very limited collection, so when I decided on tan, that helped me narrow my choices somewhat.

I also considered the Frye Jenny hobo, considering the leather quality is really good and I’m a sucker for durable, high quality leather. To be honest, I haven’t seen the bag in person which is why I make all my decisions based on extremely helpful reviews, and most reviews for Frye leather are pretty outstanding. Fortunately or unfortunately, the Nordstrom store DH visited didn’t have any Frye handbags, and so he had to select between the PS and Chloe.

He picked up the PS1 and as usual, when he reached home, he said he hadn’t had the time to buy anything for me. I was asleep when he placed it on my bedside table and I woke up to a lovely ‘surprise’.

Ever since I have received my tan PS1, I haven’t been able to separate myself from it. I have carried it with me every single day for the last twenty days. This bag is edgy and gives out a casual vibe, although of course you can carry it out for lunch parties. It’s not, however, a formal looking bag, but it is definitely a bag you will get more wear out of. I went out of town, and this was the only bag I carried. The tan colour goes with almost anything as long as I have either my tan belt or tan shoes.

How could I not love this bag?

I have realised that although I do carry it with jeans or trousers a lot, it really looks best when paired with flowy dresses and skirts, as they bring out the satchel’s cuteness factor.

Material: The PS1 comes in both leather and suede. Although the suede is stunning too, I chose leather as I presumed it will look better for much longer than suede will, and I will not have to baby it as much. The leather is lambskin, and very soft. Earlier PS1 bags had issues with hardware falling off and leather changing colour, but this has been rectified and the newer bags have been better treated. The bag has a zipped pocket on the back, and my zipper kept falling out as the loop hadn’t been adequately tightened. I just did it myself with a pair of pliars.

The bag is not heavy, which is something I love about it.

Shoulder strap: The bag has a long shoulder strap, so you can hang it from your shoulder. But it is NOT long enough to be worn cross-body if you are taller than 5ft 2 or maybe 3 inches. I am 5ft 5in, and definitely cannot carry it cross body.

Handle: The bag has one handle so you can hold it in your hand or hang it in the crook of your arm. In my opinion, this is when it looks at its slouchiest best.

Pockets: The medium size bag, which is what I bought as I don’t have to carry a lot of stuff, has plenty of compartments so you can organise your things beautifully. It is also spacious, yet not so much that you’re constantly digging to find something. It can easily fit a large wallet, sunglasses case, lipstick case, phone and book in the main compartment, and more stuff like keys and compact in the outside and back compartments. It is large enough to fit an ipad or a kindle.

Durable: Is the leather durable? According to the reviews, it is, but in order for me to attest to that, I will have to wait a while longer. I can however say that my very first designer bag which I bought five years ago, the LV Neverfull, still looks good as new.